Opinions on caliper for reloading.

Good deal for described use?

  • Yes

    Votes: 29 96.7%

  • No

    Votes: 1 3.3%
  • Total voters
    30
eh-must

eh-must

Regular
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Location
S.W. Ontario
Hello all,

I am piecing together a very basic reloading kit and now need a tool for measuring OAL. I will be loading 9mm only for plinking purposes so i have no use for anything special. I would like some opinions on the below caliper from Canadian Tire, its on sale next week for $15 (down from $40). Again this is supposed to be a basic (see: cheap) kit.

Thank you for your advice,

http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/0586800P/mastercraft-mastercraft-digital-caliper-reviews/reviews.htm
 
the main point with cheap calipers, is returning to zero
once you took it out of the box, close it, set zéro and open it wide and close it back fast a few times
if it still read zero, keep it
if not is have been mounted slack and sensor looses signal
just get it replaced
 
I have that exact one but find it to be not too accurate. Accurate enough for normal reloading but not if you are looking for ultra precision. I tested it by measuring a couple things multiple times both leaving it on or turning it off and on in between. I would get highs and lows with a gap between of 3-5 thousands.

I have since switched to a dial caliper from Lee Valley which was around $40-50 and it is much better. If you can get the Mastercraft one for $15 and you are just reloading plinking ammo it will do the job.
 
I use my electronic calipers when I'm using the bullet comparator. Otherwise it's the dial caliper for me.

I bought 2 of the Canadian Tire electronic calipers about 4 years ago. Still haven't had to take the second one out of the package. The one that i'm using now always returns to "zero" without fail. Decent tool for the price.
 
dial is fine for reloading but the way they work (gear rack) i wouldnt get one for anywhere that could be dirty (ie: beside your mill/lathe) and would be a great idea to keep it away from where powder could spill

im lazy and use digital for reloading my 9mm, if it fits my barrel then good enough
 
Thanks for the help.

Cheers all for the input, and very quick at that.
It's nice to have a little more confidence spending all of 15 hard earned $s.
 
Just going to toss out that I prefer a dial caliper for the simple reason that you can re-zero them easily and you never have a dead battery at a rather non-opportune time.
 
I have a $35 one from Home Depot I use most of the time. Keep meaning to get a dial.

I bougth a Canadian Tire model on sale and it didn't keep a zero. I tossed it in the tool box and didn't bother with it for a while, then remembered what happened to my other one when the battery was low. New battery and the CT one works great. Plan on 2 batteries a year if you use it regularily, and even if it sits a while it may need one.
 
just watching long range pursuit on wild tv.arron davidson was showing step by step reloading.he also uses the mastercraft digital calipers to measure his OAL.if it is good enough for their shooting/reloading needs should be good enough yours/mine.i also have a set of these calipers along with 2 different sets of vernier calipers and one set of dial calipers.i also have a set of vernier micrometers which i have used in the past.
 
All I use is the Canadian Tire digital caliper for my reloading, as long as it is consitent in it's measurments you are good to go.

I actually have 2, 1 as a main and the other as a backup.....just in case.

If you can find the 10 packs of batteries for it at the dollar store, pick up a few packs like I did, they do go through batteries quite rapidly. Got mine 10/$1 :D
 
Ganderite said:
I have all 3 types - dial, vernier and electronic. I prefer the dial over the others. Don't like electronic.

But for the OP, that one will do the job.
Click to expand...

I also prefer the dial calipers, dad taught me how to use them more than 50 years ago and I guess I will hopefully still be using them for another 40.

Thanks to the OP for the heads up on the digital calipers on sale at CT, I will pick up another set for the toolbox. For 15 bucks you cant go wrong.
 
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